Bottle-filling machine



July 29, 1930. A. w.' SUITER BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31. 1921 4 $heets-Sheet W -WW ATTUHNEIYE VA C'UUHT'ElEE.

y 1930-v A. w. su|TER 1,771,422

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1930. A. w. SUITER BIOTTLESFVILLING MACHINE Filed OCt. 5l, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet VACUUM P PE July 29, 1930. A. w. SUITER BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet Filed Oct. 31

VIK'UUM P/PE AV 7, a

Patented July 29, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE ARTHUR W. SUIIER, or wooivsocxn'r, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNoR To RU SIA CEMENT COMPANY, on GLOUCESTER, MAssACHusnT s, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS BOTTLE-FILLING MACHINE Application filed October 31, 19:21. Serial No. 511,717.

This invention relates to bottle filling machinesof that type Which utilizes atmospheric pressure for forcing material into the,

bottle, this invention eiiecting this result by producing a vacuum therein.

One feature of the'invention relates to mechanism by which the filling is effected to a predeterminedlevel, any excess material being returned automatically to the supply reservoir.

The bottles are designed to be supported on a rotating turret, and the empty bottles being fed to a turret at one point, andthe filled bottles removedat another point. A

further feature of this invention relates to means whereby the'bottles may be filled as they are being moved between these points without danger of spilling the material or of interrupting the flow.

Yet another feature of this invention relates to means forhandling the bottles and sealing and unsealing them with the vacuum producing mechanism, a

An addltional featureof thls invention is 2.5 the means whereby a liquid seal is main-f t ained between the rotating and non-rotating'members'of the suction element, thus avoiding the use of a stuffing box A furtherfeature comprises the mechanism by which the required amount of vacuum is maintained.

Further objects and advantageous details and combinations of parts will appear from V a more complete description of an embodiment thereof disclosed in the drawlngs in which away of the machine. e

Figure 2 is a half top elevation and half 40 section on. line 22 of Figure 1. t

Figure 3 's a plan partly in section supply tank and vacuum pipe system.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4l4 of Figure 1.

parts removed or broken away through the central. portion of the machine. U i

Figure 6 is a similar view of thevacuum tank at the top of the machine.

Figure 7 is a diagrammaticverti'cal see- Figure is a front elevation partly broken ofthe' Figure 5 is a vertical cross section with tion illustrating the operation of the machine.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional detail of the bottle sealing mechanism. v i 7 Referring to these drawings at 1 is indicated a supporting standard for themachine v a parts. Positioned to rotate on a verticalaxis" on a hollow frusto-conical member 1' fixed to the support 1 is a turret 2 which may be turned by anysuitable means, herein shown a gear 3 being fixed thereto; and through which turning movement maybe imparted;

At the top of the turret2 is a vacuum chamber 4 mounted to rotate therewith and beneath the turret fixed to the support 1 is a liquid supply tank 5. Thisv supply tank may be supplied with liquid with which the bottles are to be filled through a pipe 6(see Figures 5 and 7), a float 7 controllingthe level of the liquid in thestank actingmon a valve 8. Extending downwardly through the tank 5 is a vacuum'pipe9 fixedin a stationary position and extending upwardly axially of the turret 2 and communicating at itsupper open end with "the. upper portion of the'vacuuinchamber 4;. This pipemay be threaded atits lower end inthe base of the supply tank as shown in Figure 5, a pipe 10 communicating therewith and adaptedto be connected to a vacuum pump. a

As shown more particularly in Figures 5, 6, and 7 a tube llsurrounds the pipe?) and is spaced therefrom to aflord an annular liquid sealing chamber 12. This tube 11 is made fast to the turret, as herein showna connectionbeing made at its upper end at 13 with the lower end of the vacuum chamber, the space l2 being in communication therewith, The-lowerend of the tube 11 projects downwardly beneath the surface of the liquid in the supply tank, and the pipe and tube are of suflicient vertical length so that when the vacuum chamber is partiallyexhausted atmospheric pressure on the surface of the liquid in the supply tank-raises this liquid to partially fill the annular-chamber 12, thus furnishing-a liquid seal between the rotating turret and the stationary pipe 9 under .a hydrostatic head substantially balancing the extent of vacuum. I V y Near the lower portion of the turret is provided a plurality of vertically extending guide members 15 for slidably supporting a series of plungers 16, each plunger having at its upper end a shallow bottle-receiving receptacle 17. These receptacles may be made fast to the plungers by any suitable means, this means as shown consisting of a set screw 18 passed through a boss 19 depending. from the base of each receptacle and engaging the upper reduced extremity 20 of the corresponding plunger 16.

Each receptacle 17 has an upstanding marginal flange 21 about a portion of its periphery, this flange being cut away at 22 to allow the bottles to be moved in and out by a sliding motion. The lower end of each plunger is provided with an outstanding flange or head23. Each plunger is also guided preferably by a key within the member 15 to prevent relative rotation thereof so that the cut out portions 22 of the flanges 2.3 are held outin the plunger 33. Projecting wardly directed from the center of the turret. The receptacles 17 are designed to receive the bottles, to be filled, the bottles being fed in position in'sequence atthe point a as shown in Figure 4 to be filled, and removed at the point I). The bottles pass from the point a by rotation of the turret in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4 to the point 5 and. are filled while being moved as willlater appear. Positioned above each receptacle 17 and vertically slidable in the turret is a pair of rods and 31. The lower end of the rod 31 has fixed thereto a sealing head comprising an annular plunger member 32 having its lower face formed so as to be brought into sealing engagement'with the top of the mouth of the bottle supported by the receptacle 17. The rod 30 carries at its lower end a filling head or plunger 33adapted tobe brought into sealing engagement with the head 32. Sealing engagement between the head 32 and the bottle top and the plunger 33 is effected by a member 36 carried by the head 32 and contacting at oppositeends with the bottle mouth and the plunger 33. The head 32 is provided with a central aperture 34 within which may telescope loosely a tube 35 fixed downwardly within the tube 35 and spaced therefrom is a second tube 37 which communicates at 1ts upper end with a passage 38 in the plunger 33. The annular space between the tubes 36 and 37 communicates with a second passage 39 in the head The passage 38 is connected by a flexible pipe 40 to the upper end of a pipe 41 which projects downwardly be neath the liquid in the supply tank 5, the pipes 40 and 41 being carried by the turret to rotate therewith. The passage-39 has communicating therewith a flexible pipe 42 which extends upwardly and is attached to a nipple 43 on the under side of the vacuum chamber.

Within the vacuum chamber is a substantially U-shaped pipe 44 communicating with each nipple 43 and having its discharge opening facing downwardly toward the pipe 9. For convenience, the pipes 40 and 41 will be referred to as the siphon pipe and pipes 42 and 44 as the suction pipe.

The heads 32 and 33 are normally held downward in separated position by means of springs and 51 surrounding them and hearing at their upper ends against'a flange 52 on the turret through which the rods are slidable, and at their lower ends against collars 53 and 54 fixed to these rods. The lower limit of motion of rod 30 is determined by means-of a collar 55 fixed thereto above the flange 52, and the lower limit of the rod 31 is determined by a collar 56 provided wit-h an extension 57 perforated to slidably receive the upper end of the rod 30. When the collar 56 is in contact with the flange 52 the heads 32 and 33 are separated. The head .33 may also have a guide extension 58 thereon through which the lower end of the rod 31 passes.

It will be evident that if a bottle carried by any of the supports 17 is raised it first contacts the head 32 and is sealed thereto and on further raising thereof this head moves upwardly into sealing engagement with the head 33, the spring 51 yielding. Further upward motion of the, bottle then moves both plungers in unison against the tension of the springs 50 and 51. As soon as this sealing engagement takes place, however, it is evident that a vacuum is produced in the bottle by means of its communication through the annular passage between the tubes 35 and 37 through the passage 39 and the suction tube to the vacuum chamber, and that liquid is thus drawn up through the siphon pipe and discharged through the tube 37 into the bottle (as shown at the left in Figure 7), this action taking place until the level of the liquid reaches the lower end of the tube 34, whereupon the liquid is raised up between this tube and tube 37 into the passage 39 and up in the suction pipe toward the vacuum chamber.

In order to effect the sealing and unsealing of the bottles, automatic mechanism for raising the bottles into sealing engagement with the heads in the position a as shown in Figure 4 is provided. This means comprises a vertically movable bar or rod 60 slidable through a boss 61 fixed to the frame portion 1. The lower end of this bar is connected through a pivoted link 62 to an arm 63 fixed to a rock shaft 64. This rock shaft is actuated at suitable times by an arm 65 fixed thereto to which is pivot-ally connected a link 66 engaging one arm of a bell crank lever 67. This bell crank lever is fulcrumed at 68 and the arm 69 thereof has a cam follower 7 O ridingin a groove 71 in a cam wheel 72. This cam wheel may be driven in any suitable manner in time with the rotation of the gear 3. As hereinshown this cam wheel is carried by a shaft 700 having a bevel pinion 701 thereon fmeshing with a bevel gear-702 fixed at one end of a horizontal shaft 703. The'opposite endof the shaft'703 carries a bevel pinion 704 meshing with a bevel gear 705. Mountedto revolve with the gear 705 is a gear 706 meshing with the gear 3. By the rocking of the shaft 64 by means of this cam the bar is projected beneath the head 23 of each plunger 16 as it comes in position thcreover after a bottle has been placed in its support 17, the bottle thereby being raised into sealing engagement with the heads 32 and 33 as above described. As soon as a plunger 16 is raised by the bar 60 it is so held by a pivoted latch 7 5 having a supporting surface 76 engageable beneath the head 23and a flange 79 upstanding therefrom engageable with the side of the plunger. A latch is provided for each plunger and is normally urged outward toward its respective plunger member by means of a spring 80 reacting between it and a portion of the turret. This latch holds the plunger upwardly while passing between the positions (a and b in aclockwise direction. In order to release this latch so that the bottle may be retracted from sealing engagement with the heads 32and 33 a cam plate is fixed adjacent the periphery of the turret, this plate 85 having thereon afin 86 inclined inwardly toward the'center of the turret and i engaging on the outer faces of the latch 75 to force-them inwardly against their springs 8011s they approach theposition b, at which position they are entirely retracted from'beneath the head 23. Thecam plate 85 has an upwardly inclined upper face 87 terminating in a flat portion 88 which is of sufficient height to hold the plunger 16 raised as the latch is released in order to prevent premature dropping of the plunger; This flat portion 88 also holds the head 23 in position to pass between jaws of a retracting head 89 fixed to the upper end of a vertically sliding bar 90. The inclined face 37 serves to guide the head 23 into proper position in case" a latch should havefailed to retain the plunger 16 raised. This bar 90 projects through a guide 91 carried by the frame 1 and iscon- .nected by means of a pivoted link 92'to an" arm 93 also fixed to the rock shaft 64. VVhenever therefore the rock shaft is moved to raise therod 60 to move a bottle into sealing engagement with the heads 32 and 3.3 the retracting head89 engaging the flange orhead 23 forciblydepresses a bottle support to permit a filled bottle to move out of sealing engagement with the plungers 32 and 33, the spring 51 being sufficiently heavy to retain the bottle in its support until the seal with the fillinghead is broken and until the sealing head reachesthe limit of its, downward motion. Further downward niotion of the support thereafter frees the bottle from the sealing head. The bar 90 is positioned at the point I) so that when the bottles are retracted they may be removed from their supports 17 "As before stated when the bottles become filled the liquid passes up through the suction tube toward the vacuum chamber 4. In order to regulate the height to which the liquid may be so drawn] provision is made for determining the amount to whichthe vacuum chamber is exhausted. As shown in Figures 1 and 6 the vacuum chamber is provided in its top with a valve which is urged into closing engagement with its seat 101 by means of a spring 102 surrounding its stem and bearing between a washer 103 surmounted by a pair of check nuts 104: threaded on the upper end of the valve stem 105, and the seat member 101. The tension ofthis spring is so adjusted as to cause this valve toopenwhen In order to observe the action of the filling mechanism this vacuum chamberis prefer ably formed of a cylindrical transparent member as of glass, sealed at itstop and bottom against base and cap members 111 and 112 which are tied together "at intervals by means of tie rods 113. l In the operation of the device, therefore, as

an empty bottle is raised into sealingengage.

ment with the plungers 31 and 32 a Vacuum is produced in the bottle and liquid is drawn up through the siphon pipe as shown in the left hand portion of Figure 7 until the bottle is filled to the level of the lower end of the tube 35. The liquid continues to flow, however, but into the suction tube until the point 0 is reached, whereupon flow stops, the vacuum in the chamber being insuflicient to raise the column of liquid to any greater height; This action takes place while the turret is being moved and is completed before the bottle reaches the position b. When it reaches the latter position it is drawn downwardly out of sealing engagement with the plungers 32 and 33. This causes the lower end of the tube 37 to be drawn relatively upwardly above the cess to the annular space between the tubes 37 and 35 so that the vacuum in thesuction: pipecauses the liquid therein to flow upwardly and to empty into the vacuum chamber. This action of the device is shown diagra mmatieah ly'in the right handsportion of Figure 7, the liquid in the siphon tube being shown partly drawn downwardly and the liquid in the suc tion tube being shown partlyraised. By this means the excess liquid is prevented from spilling as the seal isbroken while it insures that suiiicient liquid is present under all conditions to completely fill the bottle to the required height, It is also evident that should any imperfections inthe bottle so as to prevent sealing engagement thereof with the heads be present, a vacuum will not be maintainable therein and the bottle will therefore not be filled. This machine thus acts automatically to discover imperfect bottles and refrains from filling these.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should be evident that many changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by theappended claims.

I claim i' 1. In a machine of the class described a. revoluble turret, bottle holders carried by said turret,'a liquid supply, a pipe extending into liquid in said supply and leading to the mouth of a bottle carried byeach of said holders, a

vacuum chamber carried by said turret, a pipe extending from said chamber to the mouth of each'bottle, aistationary pipeextending axially of said turret and communicating with said chamber and through which said chamber may be exhausted, the machine being adapted to contain aliquid forminga seal between said stationary pipe and turret.

-2. A machine'ofthe class described comprising a revoluble turret adapted to carry bottles tobe filled, a liquid supply, a vacuum chamber, means whereby said-supply and chamber may be placed in communication tocontain liquid to form an air tight liquid seal between the turret and said pipe.

[3. In a machine of the class'd'escribed, a

support, a pair of plungers mounted in said support, a filling head on one of said plungers having a central stemprovided with a pair of passages therein, a sealing head on the other;

plunger having a perforation forthe slidable reception of said stem and movable into sealing engagement; with said filling head, a liquid supply, a vacuumchamber, pipes lead ing from said supply and chamber, respectively, to said passages, and means for relatively moving abottle on said support and said plungers'to bring the mouth of said bottle into sealing engagement with said sealing head and then said sealing head into sealing engagement with said filling head.

, 4. In a machine of the class described, a revoluble turret, a plurality of vertically movable bottle holders carried by said turret, a pair of superposed heads, the upper of said heads having a pair of passages therethrough a pair of plungers spring-supported above each holder, each of said plungers carrying one of said heads, a liquid supply, a vacuum chamber, a pipe extending from said liquid supply to one of said passages, a pipe extending from the other of said passages to said chamber, means for raising said holder to press the mouth of an empty bottle held thereby into sealing engagement with the lower head and to move said head into sealing engagement with said upper head, and means for lowering each holder to lower the filled bottle, the lower head lowering V therewith sufliciently to break the seal with said upper head.

5. A machine of the class described, arevoluble turret, a plurality of vertically movable bottle holders carried by said turret, a vacuum chamber carried by said turret, a pipe extending axially of and spaced from said turret, a liquid supply, the space between said turret and pipe opening at its upper end in said vacuum chamber and at its lower end beneath the liquid in said supply and adapted to contain liquid to form a liquid seal between the pipe and turret, siphon and suction pipes leading respectively from said supply and from said vacuum chamber and adapted to be brought into sealing engagement with bottles carried by said holders, means to raise said holders to make sealing engagement at one point in the rotation of said turret, means to maintain said sealing engagement during a portion of the rotation of said turret to allow the bottles to be filled, and means acting at a succeeding point in the rotation of said turret to break said sealing engagement and to allow the liquid in said siphon pipe to drain back into said supply and the liquid in'said suction pipe to be drawn into said chamber.

6. A machine of the class described comprising a revoluble bottle-carrying turret, a liquid supply, pipes leading from said supply to bottles on said turret, a vacuum pipe, and means for establishing operative connections from said pipe to the bottles on said turret, comprising relatively movable parts spaced apart for a sufficient height to contain liquid under a hydrostatic head balancing the vacuum in said pipe, said space communicating with a source of liquid supply.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a revoluble bottle-carrying turret, a liquid supply, pipes leading 'from said supply to bottles on said turret, a vacuum pipe, and means for establishing operative connections from said pipe to the bottles on said turret, comprising relatively movable spaced parts, said space belng m communlcation with liquid in said supply and forming with liquid derived therefrom a seal between said relatively movable parts.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a support for a bottle, an annular member movable relative to said bottle on i said support into and out of engagement with the mouth of the bottle and having a bottle-engaging portion shaped to seal against the top of the bottle mouth and when in sealing engagement with said bottle holding it against said support, a filling head, and said machine including means for relatively moving said filling head and annular memher into and out of sealing engagement with each other while said member is in sealing en- 4 means for raising said support to effect en- I gagement of the bottle mouth with said annular member and then engagement of said annular member with said filling head, and means acting on the descent of said support for first disengaging said filling head and annular member and then disengaging said annular member and bottle.

10. In a machine of the class described, a revoluble turret for supporting'bottles, a liquid supply, means for conducting liquid from said supply to said bottles, and means for producing vacuum conditions in said bottles including an element movable with the turret and a'stationary element spaced from said .movable element to define therewith a chamber communicating with said vacuum producing means and the liquid in said supply.

11. In a machine o'f the class described, a

- revoluble turret for supporting bottles, a

stationary liquid supply axially of said turret, pipes movable withsaid turret 'andlead: ing from beneath the level of liquid in said supply to the bottles, and means for producing vacuum conditions in said bottles including an element movable with saidturret and a stationary element coaxial with and spaced from said movable element for the reception ofa liquid insaidispace for sealing said elements against the ingress of a1r therebetween,

said space being of sufficient height to contain a liquid column having aj-hydrostatic head balancing the vacuum and communi cating with a-source of liquid supply.

12; In a machine of the class described,a revoluble turret for supporting bottles, astationary liquid supply axially of said turret,

pipes movable with said turret and leading from beneath the level of liquidinsaid supply to the bottles, and means for producing elements.

vacuum conditionslin said bottles including I an element movable with said turret and a stationary element coaxialwith and spaced from said movable element, said space being in communication with the liquid in "said supply to effect, a liquid seal between said 13..In a machine o'fthe class described, a revoluble turret for supporting bottles, a

liquidsupply arranged axially of said'turret, a stationary pipe positioned axially of said turret and extending through said liquid supply, a plpe closed at its upper end arranged coaxially with said stationarypipe and spaced therefrom and revoluble withsaid turret, said stationary pipe opening at its top into said space, and the lower end of said space being in communication with said supply beneath the liquid level therein, pipes leading from the upper end of said space tothe bottles, and vacuum-producing means connected to the lower end of said stationary pipe.

14. In a machine of the class described, a

revoluble turret for supporting bottles, a liquid supply arranged axially of said turret, a stationary pipe positioned axially of said turret and extending through said liquid sup ply, a pipe closed at its upper end arranged coaxially with said stationary pipe and spaced therefrom and revoluble with said turret, said stationary pipe opening at its top into said space, and the lower end of said space being in communication with said supply below the liquid level therein, pipes leading from the upper end of said space to the bottles, vacuum-producing means connected to the lower end of said stationary pipe, and pipes revoluble with said turret leading from the liquid in said supply to the bottles.

15. In a machine of the class described, a revoluble turret for supporting bottles,"vac uum producing means, and means for operatively connecting said vacuum producing means and bottles on said turret including a 'member movable with said turret, and a stationary member spaced from said movable member to'define a chamber for receiving a sealing liquid, said chamber being of suflicient height to contain a column of liquid having a hydrostatic head balancing the vacuum produced by said means and communieating with a source of liquid supply.

16.1In a machine of the class described, a revoluble turret for supporting bottles, a liquid supply, and vacuum producing means including a pair of spaced relatively movable members defining therebetween a chamber communicating at its upper portion with saidvacuum producing means and bottles and at; its lower portionwith the liquid in said supply,said chamber being ofsulfici'ent height to contain liquid having a hydrostatic head balancing the difference of pressure between that of said vacuum means and that i on the surface of liquid in said supply.

17 Ina machine of the class described, a revoluble turret for supporting bottles, a liquid supply, means for conductingliquid from said supply to said bottles, and means for producing vacuum conditions in said bottles including an element movable vwith the turret and a stationary element, said ele ments being spaced to receive a liquid the 're between under a hydrostatic head balancing the vacuum in said bottles and sealing against the admission-of air, said space comv municating with asource of liquid supply.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. c,

5 ARTHUR W.- SUITER. 

